The Consumer Price Index for the Midwest increased 0.5 percent in April following a 1 percent increase in March. The index was up 2.3 percent from the April 2006 level, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Jay Mousa, regional commissioner for the U.S. Department of Labor, said fuel costs accounted for more than 80 percent of the advance in the overall index. Fuel prices increased 9.8 percent in April after rising 10.1 percent in February. They have increased 29 percent since January.

Energy prices, which include prices for motor fuel, household fuels and utilities, were up 5.2 percent in April. Prices for energy were 3 percent higher than in April 2006.

Excluding the impact of energy, Midwest CPI was unchanged in April 2007 and was up 2.2 percent since January.

From April 2006 to April 2007, housing costs increased 2.8 percent in the Midwest, and prices for household furnishings and operations rose 0.8 percent.